Ketogenic Diet in Treating Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes

By Sam Dickinson

As the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to worsen around the globe, a thorough evaluation of the evidence of the risks and benefits of popular diets becomes increasingly important over time.

Interest in the ketogenic diet and its potential to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes has been steadily growing in recent years. With a minimal amount of calories coming from carbohydrates and the majority of calories coming from fat, this diet leads to a state of physiological ketosis, in which ketone bodies replace glucose as the primary source of energy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: vincenzo nappi
• Release date: Aug 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201328924

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INTRODUCTION

As the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to worsen around the globe, a thorough evaluation of the evidence of the risks and benefits of popular diets becomes increasingly important over time. In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in the ketogenic diet among healthcare professionals and in popular culture. Its pervasiveness in the public consciousness is often perpetuated by celebrity endorsements and online health gurus, however, it has also caught the attention of researchers and nutritionists, even making it to the pages of the most highly respected medical journals. In January 2018, a JAMA article briefly discussed some of the potential therapeutic uses and adverse effects of the ketogenic diet in obesity and type 2 diabetes. While it is clear further studies are required for a better understanding of the diet’s long term effects, there is still significant primary literature on the ketogenic diet which requires careful review.

Much of the literature on this topic comes from clinical trials in which participants are put on a specific diet, and the subsequent effects on their health are measured, however, creating well-designed studies in this way comes with some challenges. Clinical trials held within an inpatient setting have the advantage of being able to strictly control and monitor the foods consumed by participants, whereas outpatient studies often rely on self-report and food journals from participants. On the other hand, results from outpatient studies utilizing counseling from nutritionists on food choices are more likely to be generalizable, and these studies have an easier time acquiring large sample sizes. Many of the studies discussed here fall into one of these categories.

After some background information on the ketogenic diet and physiological ketosis, this thesis will summarize the methods and findings of important clinical trials evaluating the benefits and disadvantages of the ketogenic diet for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. In particular, the focus will be on what conclusions can be drawn from the primary literature on the ketogenic diet in regards to weight loss, appetite suppression, glycemic control, and changes in lipid